• Home
    • About
      • Parish History
      • Fr. Paul Keller
      • Fr. Tony Diaz - Reflections
      • Fr. Eslin Pereira - Reflections
      • Contact Us
      • Ottawa-Cornwall Archdiocese
      • Catholic News
      • Links
      • Archive Reflections by Fr. Tony Diaz, CMF
    • Temporal
      • The Parish Bulletin
      • Holy Cross Weekly News
      • Support Our Advertisers
    • The Claretian Missionaries—USA-Canada Province
  • Sacraments
    • Serve
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • First Communion
    • First Communion Preparation
    • Reconciliation
    • Marriage
    • Worship
      • The Catholic Mass
      • David Suchet Audio Bible
      • The Rosary
  • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Discipleship
    • Evangelization
      • What is Evangelization?
      • Alpha
      • Catholic Faith Studies
      • Stations of the Cross
      • Story of the Annunciation
    • Church Teachings
      • Faith Formation
      • Sycamore Videos
      • Formed.org
      • The Bible In a Year by Fr. Mike Schmitz
    • Synod 2021-2023
  • Fellowship & Ministry
    • Fellowship
      • Grandparents
      • Club 55+
      • Seniors Corner
    • Ministry
      • Hospitality
      • Children's Liturgy
      • Kid's Ministry
        • Kids Books
        • Kids Ministry Flocknote Signup
        • Cat Chat For Kids
        • Pray as a Family
        • Liturgical Resources
        • Kids Ministry Looking Back
        • Advent family Resources
        • Christmas Pageant
        • Second Sunday of Advent
        • First Sunday of Advent
        • Third Sunday of Advent, Dec 12th, 2021
        • Fourth Sunday of Advent
        • Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
        • Christmas
        • Epiphany 2022
        • The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
        • The 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • The 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • The 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • The 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time
        • 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time
        • Lenten Resources 2022
        • 1st Sunday of Lent
        • 2nd Sunday of Lent
        • The 3rd Sunday of Lent
        • 4th Sunday of Lent
        • 5th Sunday of Lent
        • The Passion of Our Lord
        • Easter Sunday
        • Divine Mercy Sunday
        • 3rd Sunday of Easter
        • 4th Sunday of Easter
        • 5th Sunday of Easter May 15th, 2022
        • 6th Sunday of Easter
        • Ascension Sunday
        • Pentecost Sunday
        • Holy Trinity Sunday
        • Body and Blood of Christ
        • 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time
        • 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
        • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
        • The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
        • 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
        • 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • Christ the King
        • First Sunday of Advent
        • First Sunday of Advent-Cycle A
        • Second Sunday of Advent
        • Second Sunday of Advent Year A
        • Third Sunday of Advent Year A
        • Fourth Sunday of Advent-A
        • Christmas 2022
        • Mary Mother of God
        • Epiphany of the Lord
        • 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
        • 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
      • Music
        • 930 Sunday Choir Music Schedule
        • Saturday 5pm Music Ministry
        • Choir Schedules
    • Parish & Community Life
      • Knights of Columbus
        • How to join Holy Cross Council
        • Holy Cross Council 10617
          • Learn More About the Knights
  • Stewardship
    • Annual Report
    • Financial Offering
|||
Holy Cross Parish
  • The Parish Bulletin
  • Contact Us
Flocknote Twitter Facebook
Search
  • Home
    • About
      • Parish History
      • Fr. Paul Keller
      • Fr. Tony Diaz - Reflections
      • Fr. Eslin Pereira - Reflections
      • Contact Us
      • Ottawa-Cornwall Archdiocese
      • Catholic News
      • Links
      • Archive Reflections by Fr. Tony Diaz, CMF
    • Temporal
      • The Parish Bulletin
      • Holy Cross Weekly News
      • Support Our Advertisers
      • The Claretian Missionaries—USA-Canada Province
  • Sacraments
      • Serve
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Baptism
      • Confirmation
      • First Communion
      • First Communion Preparation
      • Reconciliation
      • Marriage
    • Worship
      • The Catholic Mass
      • David Suchet Audio Bible
      • The Rosary
  • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Discipleship
    • Evangelization
      • What is Evangelization?
      • Alpha
      • Catholic Faith Studies
      • Stations of the Cross
      • Story of the Annunciation
    • Church Teachings
      • Faith Formation
      • Sycamore Videos
      • Formed.org
      • The Bible In a Year by Fr. Mike Schmitz
      • Synod 2021-2023
  • Fellowship & Ministry
    • Fellowship
      • Grandparents
      • Club 55+
      • Seniors Corner
    • Ministry
      • Hospitality
      • Children's Liturgy
      • Kid's Ministry
      • Music
    • Parish & Community Life
      • Knights of Columbus
  • Stewardship
      • Annual Report
      • Financial Offering
  • Lenten Resources
    Lenten Resources
    Grow in Your Faith This Lent
    • A Powerful Novena to Saint Joseph

       

      HOW TO MAKE THIS NOVENA (Link to PDF Version)

      No particular prayers need to be said for this novena. Every day, for nine days,
      turn to St. Joseph in spirit – four times during the day and honor him in the following four points.: 

      1. During the first visit, consider ST. JOSEPH'S FIDELITY TO GRACE. Reflect upon the action of the Holy Ghost in his soul. At the conclusion of this brief meditation, thank God for so honoring St. Joseph, and ask, through his intercession for a similar grace. 

      2. Later in the day, consider ST. JOSEPH'S FIDELITY TO THE INTERIOR LIFE. Study his spirit of recollection. Think, thank God, and ask. 

      3. Later still, consider ST. JOSEPH'S LOVE FOR OUR LADY. Think, thank God, and ask. 

      4. Finally, in a fourth visit, reflect upon ST. JOSEPH'S LOVE FOR THE DIVINE CHILD.
      Think, thank God, and ask. 

      PRAYER WHICH MAY BE SAID AT THE CONCLUSION OF
      THE VISITS EACH DAY 

      O MY GOD, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph's great
      faithfulness to grace. Grant that, through his loving intercession
      and the power of his example. I too may be faithful to grace.
      O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me this favor
      I ask. [Name your request.] 

      O MY GOD, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph's great
      faithfulness to the interior life. Grant that, through his loving intercession
      and the power of his example. I too may be faithful to the interior life.
      O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me this favor
      I ask. [Name your request.]

      O MY GOD, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph's great
      love of Our Lady.
      Grant that, through his loving intercession
      and the power of his example. I too may truly love the Blessed Virgin Mary.
      O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me this favor
      I ask. [Name your request.] 

      O MY GOD, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph's great love for the Divine Child.

      Grant that, through his loving intercession and the power of his example. 

      I too may truly love the Child Jesus. 

      O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me this favor 

      I ask. [Name your request.]

  • Articles:Lent in the Catholic Church

    • Lent in the Catholic Church: Lent begins this coming Wednesday, March 2nd, read more...
      • Lent in the Catholic Church

        Lent begins this coming Wednesday, March 2nd. Today’s gospel can be helpful in discerning our prayer, fasting and almsgiving for this Lenten season. What is Lent? This is a time the Church prepares candidates for Baptism and calls those already baptized to a time of penance which will result in a renewed commitment to Jesus Christ at Easter. Simply put, Lent is a time of conversion and changed behaviour which should last beyond Lent and Easter. It is to be a permanent changed behaviour, which true followers of Christ would have.
         

        What is Lent?

        The season of Lent is a Catholic liturgical season consisting of forty days of fasting, prayer, and penitence beginning at Ash Wednesday and concluding at sundown on Holy Thursday. The official liturgical color for the season of Lent is violet.

    • The History of Lent: The observance of Lent is related to the celebration of Easter, read more...
      • The History of Lent

        The observance of Lent is related to the celebration of Easter. In the first three centuries of the Christian era, most Christians prepared for Easter by fasting and praying for three days. In some places this was extended to the entire week before Easter (now known as “Holy Week“). There is evidence that in Rome, the length of preparation was three weeks.


        The word Lent derives from the Middle English word lenten, meaning springtime – the time of lengthening days. There is biblical support for doing penance, in both the Old and New Testaments. The season of Lent builds on this biblical support, but like all Catholic liturgical seasons, it developed over time. In its early three-week form, Lent was the period of intense spiritual and liturgical preparation for catechumens before they were baptized at Easter. Many members of the community imitated this time of preparation with the catechumens.

        By the fourth century (when Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire) Lent had developed into its current length of forty days. Forty days is significant for Christians because it is the length of the fast and temptation of Jesus in the desert (cf. Luke 4:1-13). Recently, research has suggested that the development of Lent was also influenced by the forty-day span of fasting practiced by many in the early Church (especially monks). This fast, beginning right after Epiphany (January 6th) stressed prayer and penance.

        Once Christianity became widespread and most people were baptized as infants, Lent lost the connection to the preparation of catechumens. Instead, the themes of repentance and fasting became dominant. Vatican II restored the order of catechumens. Since then, most adult converts to Catholicism are baptized at the Easter Vigil, which takes place after sundown on Holy Saturday. As a result, the ancient baptismal meaning of Lent is once again becoming important.

    • When does Lent begin? Traditionally, Lent begins on Ash, read more...
      • Traditionally, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Since this is more than forty days, some contend that Sundays are not counted in Lent. Instead, they argue, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are counted instead. Others say that Lent begins on the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday. No one is exactly sure how Ash Wednesday became the first day of Lent.

    • Ash Wednesday: dates from at least the fourth century, read more...
      • Ash Wednesday dates from at least the fourth century, although it is not possible to give an exact date. During that century, penitents looking for forgiveness and re-entry into the community would dress in sackcloth and sprinkle ashes to show their repentance. This custom certainly predates Christianity as can be seen by references in the Hebrew Scriptures (cf. Esther 4:2-3; Danie19:3; Jonah 3:6).

        There is no doubt that the custom of distributing ashes to everyone on Ash Wednesday came from imitation of the practice of wearing ashes by public penitents. Public penitents were those doing penance for sins such as murder, apostasy, and adultery. When they completed their public penance, they were able to be readmitted to communion with the Church. As Lent increasingly focused on the themes of repentance and renewal, Christians sensed their own need for repentance. The practice of distribution of ashes to all members of the community is mentioned in official documents of 1091 (Cf. Synod of Benventum, 1091 Manse, XX, 739) although nearly a hundred years earlier it is already assumed in a homily of the period.

    • Lenten Regulations: The Catholic Church, in an attempt to help Catholics, read more...
      • The Catholic Church, in an attempt to help Catholics do at least a minimum during Lent, asks all Catholics to fast and abstain from meat on certain days. Fasting means to limit food to one full meal a day with the possibility of two smaller meals (not adding up to a full meal) as needed. Abstinence means not eating meat, although fish is allowed. Catholics are required to observe all days of fasting and abstience which is one of the precepts of the Church.

        Those 14 years of age or older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics between the ages of 16 and 59 are also to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. They may eat one full meal on these days, and two small meals to maintain strength. The two small meals together must not equal the size of one full meal. If one’s work or health make it inadvisable to fast or abstain from meat, they are not obligated to do so. This includes mental health: Fasting may be harmful for someone who struggles with an eating disorder. Such a person might do an alternate penance on the days of fasting. Pregnant and nursing women are exempt from the fast.

        At one time, people gave up all animal products and during the whole Lenten season. The Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches still follow this rule. Since chickens continue to produce eggs and cows milk, the custom developed to make the milk into cheese and color the eggs so that when Easter arrived, no food would be wasted.

    • Lenten Penance: Many Catholics were taught as children to “give up something” for Lent, read more...
      • Many Catholics were taught as children to “give up something” for Lent. The sacrifices in Lent are really penance, in the same spirit as the Ninehvites that repented at the preaching of Jonah. Throughout our history, Christians have found prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to be an important part of repentance and renewal. Many Catholics now add something during Lent rather than giving up something, either to address personal habits that need work or to add some outreach to others in need. 

        The Church does not specifically require that we do something beyond the requirements of fasting and abstinence. To do nothing, however, would certainly not be in keeping with the spirit of Lent. Furthermore, the sacrifices and extra things we do for Lent help us grow closer to Christ. We are missing out on so many graces if we do not participate fully in Lent. It is not necessary to be perfect, but we should put forth a good effort.

        A good practice is to do something extra in prayer, something involving fasting (whether limiting our intake of food or giving up something non food-related), and something involving almsgiving (giving money or goods to the needy or doing extra acts of charity).

    • For More Information, Links provided here..
        • From About Catholics: Lent in the Catholic Church
        • Ascension Press Presents: Preparing for Lent
        • Ascension Press Presents: The Significance of Ask Wednesday by
        • Fr Allan MacDonald, CC: Sipping on the Sabbath
  • Links to:Lenten Family Resources

    • Holy Heroes: Lenten Family Resources
        • Stations of the Cross
        • Lenten Adventure
        • Reclaiming Car Time
        • Prayer Journal
        • How to do Lent based on the ages of your children
    • Cat Chat Productions: Treasures of Faith Lenten Journey for pre-K to 5th Grade: Click the Image
    • Video of the Scene of the Temptation of Christ
    • Loyola Press - Lent (Full Articles)
        • Arts & Faith: Week 1 of Lent Cycle C

 Mass Times: 

Saturday 5pm, Sunday 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Wed, Thur and Fri 12:15 Mass

Holy Cross Parish of Ottawa  

© 2023 Holy Cross Parish | 685 Walkley Road, Ottawa ON K1V 6R8 Canada | Map
Phone: 613-731-7834 | Fax: 613-731-2401 

Login
powered by eCatholic®